This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1176: But “BS” Has You

It was strangely surreal.

Not long ago, BS Rita had gone to great lengths to snatch Mistblade into BS, even willing to give up an entire Snowfield just to make her stay willingly.

Mistblade could still clearly recall that night beneath the stars outside BS—how solemnly Rita had negotiated with her, Pine Bloom, Crab, and Smoke Tune.

Further back, she remembered Rita disguising herself as a goblin, acting foolish right in front of her.

And even earlier—so early that it surprised Mistblade she still remembered—it was their first meeting in the Moonfox City library.

Back then, BS Rita had been disguised as a six-tailed moon fox who couldn’t even fly. To grab a book from the shelf, she had to climb up herself.

But now...

The player who used to light up with excitement over a few alchemy books or a gemstone formula was gone.

Equal footing?

No. That stage never even existed.

Now, BS Rita—whether in status or strength—subtly but unmistakably stood above her.

Mistblade suppressed the turbulence in her heart and said,

"171 world leaders couldn’t reach you. They came to me instead, hoping BS would take in part of their populations."

Worlds on the Invasion Sequence hadn’t found peace through shared world techniques. Instead, war only accelerated.

Players returning from Quiet Mountain hadn’t rested for a second before throwing themselves back into battle. Having your own world technique was all that mattered. No one could be sure the second pendulum strike would resemble the first.

Rita met Mistblade’s gaze, studying her expression, a faintly amused smile on her lips.

"They’re not worried BS might not survive the second pendulum strike either?"

It was a cruel truth.

When Rita escaped the Invasion Sequence—escaped the fall of Lania Kaia—she also escaped Uncharted Star Sea’s peculiar form of "protection" and "selection."

After the initial miracle, everything BS faced became unknown territory. It was entirely possible that BS might shatter faster than those collapsing worlds.

This had been on Rita’s mind since the first Bell Tolls. She assumed Mistblade had thought of it too.

But Mistblade smiled softly.

"Of course they’re worried. But BS has you."

As if in response, a voice echoed simultaneously in the minds of all Divine Game players:

[The second ■■ Pendulum will enter Uncharted Star Sea in 20 Starsea days and will strike the time river for calibration within 1 Starsea day of arrival. Please prepare to welcome the second bell toll.]

[If any world uses a world technique, its effect will simultaneously apply to all other worlds on the same Invasion Sequence.]

[During this pendulum strike, world techniques will prioritize protecting the world of origin and high-star worlds on the Invasion Sequence. Worlds of star level 3 or below will inevitably shatter.]

Rita and Mistblade’s expressions tightened instantly.

They weren’t worried about BS—at least not yet. World star level was defined by energy. Invasion raised star level because it allowed a world to absorb more life and consume part of another world’s energy.

After BS gained Mistblade, Pine Bloom, Crab, and their followers, it had already risen to Star Level 4. This strike wouldn’t threaten BS.

But this was only the second bell toll.

If worlds at star level 3 and below were guaranteed to shatter now... what about the next one?

Even more brutal was the implication behind Uncharted Star Sea’s notice.

World techniques now had to prioritize high-star worlds—an indirect admission that the pendulum’s power had escalated to the point where world techniques could no longer protect multiple worlds at once.

Low-star worlds, even those on the Invasion Sequence, would be abandoned.

The living room fell silent.

Within Rita’s consciousness, a vast Starsea lit up. She heard that same voice she’d once encountered in the mysterious space.

[Do you regret it?]

Regret what?

[You already guessed it, didn’t you? This is only the beginning. BS entered too late. Letting BS merge into Lania Kaia back then was the correct answer—not struggling again and again, only to lead your world into a dead end.]

It was she who pulled BS out of the Invasion Sequence.

She who removed BS from the blood-soaked "path of survival" Uncharted Star Sea had prepared.

The Divine Game truly had to open a new page for her—because she was walking a road no player had ever taken.

Rita’s features tightened. She closed her eyes, hiding the surge of emotion, and avoided Mistblade’s instinctive glance.

So that’s why you didn’t answer me? Because in your eyes, letting other worlds’ people come to BS only delays their extinction?

[No. In fact, I have already established protection rules. A new page has been added to the Exchange. Other worlds may apply to BS Adjudicator by paying Honor Points, requesting that you accept part of their population.]

[I do not have faith in BS’s future—but you are the decisive variable.]

[As you anticipated, I am willing to write rules for you. You possess that value and qualification.]

Another system announcement followed:

[Game Update: The Divine Game has added a "Protection Application" section. World leaders may enter this section via the Ladder Rankings and, by paying Honor Points, request wartime protection from a chosen world, asking it to accept and shelter part of their population.]

Rita opened the Ladder Rankings and found [Protection Application] beside [Exchange].

A small exclamation mark explained the rules:

Each world could define what kinds of beings it would accept, the rules newcomers must follow, and the protections they would receive.

All surviving worlds were listed, sorted by star level.

At the very top sat BS.

Each world had a price per individual—BS’s was the highest of all, even higher than Dawn.

Uncharted Star Sea was making its intentions painfully clear.

Rita glanced once and closed the interface.

Before the Starsea within her consciousness faded, she pressed on.

Why does leaving divine grace bring one closer to death? You can decide whether Fruitlings awaken—does that mean you can also control a being’s death?

[You’re perceptive.]

[Once you leave divine grace, you are no longer a "player." I can no longer control your life or death. But you also break free of SS’s control. I may still assign you tasks, but I can no longer force you, punish you, command you—or erase you.]

[From this moment on, you and I are one.]

[So—do you still wish to leave divine grace?]

The Starsea dimmed.

It didn’t wait for her answer.

Because the answer was obvious—not only for BS Rita, but for every player who had truly gone far in the Divine Game.

Better to embrace death than tolerate a world where something could decide your life and death.

Wait—I have one more question!

The fading Starsea paused.

What went wrong for me in Quiet Mountain?

[Quiet Mountain attempted to bind you permanently the next time you entered the demon game via an Order Badge. That is why I sent a god to Quiet Mountain—to assist you, ensure you shattered the Order Badge yourself, and awaken before you re-entered the demon game.]

Was Deceitful Bloom sent by you—or did she go on her own?

[I chose her. But do you remember what I said? I cannot force a god to do what she does not wish to do.]

I understand. You gave the task, she accepted—but how she carried it out was her choice. Everything she did... was intentional.

[?]

...Was that really what it meant?